Walk to Freedom by Mr. Pramuan Pengchan is the story of an amazing yet simple journey. Mr. Pramuan made the sort of choice that very few make. At 50 years of age he decided to retire from his position as a professor of Buddhism and Philosophy as Chiang Mai University to practice his beliefs and search for truth. His first plan in this new birth of himself was to walk from his home in Chiang Mai to his family home in Samui island. He decided to abide by a few rules during this walk so that he could really get to see the compassion and generosity of his fellow man and develop confidence in this. The rules he kept were, first to not take or use money, second to not ask for anything or take anything unless it was given with a real joy of giving, third he should try to not cause fear or unpleasant feelings in others through his actions.
This book recounts the story of this walk from his preparation to the end and the many challenges and joys he experienced along the way. As a reader, we feel as if we are traveling with him through hardships and successes. Though the journey is one of many physical challenges, the story reveals that the real challenge and success that comes with the spirit overcoming the mind.
The original Thai version was first published in 2007 and went to win the National Book Award for best non fiction book of 2008. This English version was released in 2010, the translation being done by Chitraporn Tanratanakul. Ms. Chitraporn also translated on title from Spanish to Thai for Earth Net Foundation, “Excluidos de Hoy, Protagonistas de Mañana”by Francisco Vanderhoff Boersma.
